Secretariat to move to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar by 2029

The Cabinet has given in-principle approval to a proposal to build a new Bangladesh Secretariat on the former trade fair grounds in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, with government offices expected to begin operating there by 2029.

The proposed complex will cover around 31.58 acres and comprise 14 12-storey buildings, each with three basement levels, providing approximately 3.316 million square feet of office space. It will have parking facilities for 3,800 vehicles.

The proposal was approved at the Cabinet's 25th meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat today (18 October). The Ministry of Housing and Public Works placed the proposal.

At a press conference after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani said the site had been earmarked for the Secretariat in Dhaka's earlier master plan.

He said the complex would be architecturally distinctive and draw inspiration from the original vision of architect Louis I Kahn, though it would not replicate his design.

Several underground roads and underpasses would also be needed to ensure smooth traffic flow around the complex, he added.

Nasimul said the concept of the main design had been approved, but electrical, plumbing, architectural and structural engineering designs, among other work, remained incomplete. The government had directed officials to examine several issues before proceeding further.

Asked whether the project was justified given the country's current economic situation and public expectations following the mass uprising, the Cabinet secretary said 16 ministries were already operating outside the main Secretariat building, and the prime minister was also working from that section.

He said the prime minister wanted the government to work in a more coordinated and efficient manner, which had prompted the relocation plan.

The project will be financed by the government, but its total cost has yet to be determined. An estimate is being prepared.

Defending the project's priority amid current economic pressures, Nasimul said, "This money and this concentration are certainly a priority within the economic priorities at this moment."

Asked about the future of the existing Secretariat complex on Abdul Gani Road, he said several administrative and court-related activities in Old Dhaka could potentially be relocated there, although no final decision had been made.

He said the relocation was a government initiative led by the prime minister.

Why the new Secretariat is needed

According to a Cabinet Division press release, the existing Secretariat occupies 17.57 acres and has 13 buildings, eight of which were constructed before independence. Buildings 1, 2, 3 and 8 date from 1937–39, while Building 5 was constructed in 1947.

The government considers it risky to operate critical offices in these buildings because they were not designed to withstand earthquakes and Dhaka is located in an earthquake-prone zone.

The existing complex provides around 1.876 million square feet of office space. More than one million additional square feet are needed to meet the growing requirements of ministries and bring offices currently located outside the compound under one roof.

The proposed complex will also include a mosque, two multipurpose halls with a capacity of 350 people each, a cafeteria and a post office. Around 30% of the site will be reserved for green spaces and water bodies. The parking facilities will include 200 spaces above ground, alongside basement parking.

Cabinet approves special solar power ordinance

The Cabinet also gave in-principle and final approval to the draft Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance, 2026, aimed at reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, easing subsidy pressures and strengthening energy security.

Under the National Renewable Energy Development Strategy 2026–2030, the government aims to install 3,000–4,000 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity before next summer.

The initiative will allow investor-financed solar installations on the rooftops of government, semi-government, autonomous and local government institutions, as well as state-owned companies, under the operational expenditure (OPEX) model. Institutions with their own revenue will also be able to use the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model.

The Cabinet Division said the draft ordinance addresses gaps in regulations governing long-term electricity pricing, the share of electricity provided in exchange for rooftop use, and maintenance arrangements. It also addresses the lack of specific provisions under the Public Procurement Act, 2006, the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026, and the Electricity Act, 2018.

Bangladesh to join international hazardous chemicals convention

The Cabinet approved a proposal for Bangladesh to join the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

The convention establishes a framework for prior consent and accountability in the import and export of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

Adopted on 10 September 1998, the convention entered into force on 24 February 2004 and currently has 167 member countries. Bangladesh and Bhutan are the only South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members yet to join, according to the Cabinet Division.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change proposed Bangladesh's accession, saying membership could provide technical assistance, access to foreign funding for relevant projects, and support for developing chemical databases and tools to track chemical movements.

It would also facilitate information exchange with member countries and strengthen international cooperation on chemical management.

Ministry name to change to Women and Children Affairs

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to rename the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, currently known in Bangla as the Ministry of Mahila and Shishu Affairs, as the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, using the Bangla term Nari instead of Mahila. The relevant ministry submitted the proposal.